Swynnerton's Worm Lizard

About the Swynnerton's Worm Lizard

Swynnerton's worm lizard (Chirindia swynnertoni), also known commonly as Swynnerton's round-headed worm lizard, is a species of amphisbaenian in the family Amphisbaenidae. The species is native to eastern Africa and southern Africa.

The specific name, swynnertoni, is in honor of British entomologist Charles Francis Massy Swynnerton. C. swynnertoni is found in Mozambique, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe. The preferred natural habitats of C. swynnertoni are grassland and thicket.

C. swynnertoni may attain a snout-to-vent length (SVL) of 14 cm (5.5 in). It is uniformly pale purplish pink. C. swynnertoni is oviparous. Boulenger GA (1907). "Descriptions of a new Toad and a new Amphisbænid from Mashonaland". Annals and Magazine of Natural History, Seventh Series 20: 47–49. (Chirindia swynnertoni, new species, pp. 48–49).

Broadley DG, Howell KM (1991). "A check list of the reptiles of Tanzania, with synoptic keys". Syntarsus 1: 1–70. (Chirindia swynnertoni, p. 19). Gans C (2005). "Checklist and Bibliography of the Amphisbaenia of the World". Bulletin of the American Museum... Wikipedia →